Fishing Reel Gear Ratio

High Ratios? Think Speed - Low Ratios? Think Power

When anglers talk about fishing reel gear ratio in relation to a reel's
speed or even its power, they often forget to include the reel's spool
size in the equation.

A reel's spool works in compliment to its gears. The gears and spool "together" determine the reel's true
speed and power. But before we get into all that let's take a quick
look at the fundamentals of gears. Don't worry, I'll keep it short and
in language guys like you and I can understand. You know, non-engineer
types.

To Understand Fishing Reel Gear Ratio You Gotta Understand Gears

A Little Lesson On The Fundamental Properties Of Gears

Certainly you all know what gears are and what they do. But in
the interest of being thorough I offer this brief explanation. However,
I also offer this disclaimer. I am not a mechanical engineer. As a
matter of fact, when something breaks around our house the wife fixes
it. I'm just a retired old salesman and avid bass fisherman. So here we
go. Hope for the best.

Gears are wheels, or discs, with teeth extending "radially" from
their outer circumference. Most of us think of gears as the traditional
spur gear, the classic cog-shaped gear with simple
straight teeth like that in the picture right.

Some of us may also understand that "helical" gears have teeth
that, while protruding from the gear radially, do so diagonally across
the outside edge of the gear, rather than perpendicular
to it. Helical gears tend to be quieter, smoother operating and longer
lasting than spur gears. This is due to their broader distribution of
force or load along the teeth.

The complex shape of helical gears makes them more expensive than spur
gears and are found in the more expensive reels. Well worth the money I
say. Helical gears, when used on parallel shafts, operate just like
spur gears, but offer smoother operation. They can also operate well at
an angle.

Gears are positioned in relation to one another so their teeth mesh
together. Torque, a turning/twisting force, is applied to one gear, the
driver", causing it to turn. It in turn transfers motion to the other
gear, the "driven" gear. The driven gear turns in the "opposite"
direction of the "driver" gear.

Gears can be used to increase (gear up) or decrease (gear down)
the speed, increase or decrease the power (torque) or change the
direction of a driven unit.

There you have it. That's the best I can do fellas.

Now, what Does This Gear Stuff Mean To You and Your Reels?

First, a functional characteristic of gears that is important
for bass fishermen to understand, in relation to fishing reel gear ratio
and how it relates to their reel's performance, is that you can not
increase speed or power without reducing the other. Gearing up, that
is, increasing the number of complete revolutions (speed) of the spool
per crank of the handle, will decrease its power and vice-versa.
Reducing the number of revolutions increases power but reduces speed.
This is where fishing reel gear ratio comes in. Low gear ratio equals
power, high gear ratio means speed. Think, race cars go fast but can't
pull any weight while big trucks can pull heavy loads but can only move
slowly.

So the function of gears, and we're talking here about gears in fishing
reels, is to produce either power or speed in the spool. In fishing
reels there are two "primary" gears. The larger
of the two is the "driver" or "input" gear. It can appropriately be
called a wheel, even a disc, as illustrated in the picture right.

The other gear, the "output" gear, is much smaller. It's known as the
"driven" gear. That is, the gear that is turned (driven) by the
rotational force of the larger gear. These are identified as the main
and pinion gears respectively.

Both the main drive and pinion gears are spur gears, the most simple of
gear types. These gears are positioned on parallel axles in the same
plane so their teeth mesh. This is clearly illustrated in the photo
above. When the angler turns the reel's handle, which is directly linked
to the main "drive" gear, it acts directly on the "main drive gear"
turning it.

GEARS and GEAR RATIOS

You have no doubt seen the many different gear ratios on both
baitcasting and spinning reels. There are gear ratios of 6.3:1, 7.1:1,
5.3:1, 5.4:1, 6.4:1, 5.0:1, 5.2:1, 6.0:1 and even 4.7:1,
though this is by no means a complete list. So upon what are these
numbers based?

The numerical "gear ratio" of any fishing reel is determined by
the number of teeth on each gear. Take the number of teeth on the larger
drive gear and divide it by the number of teeth on
the smaller pinion gear and you get that reel's gear ratio. For
example, a 72 tooth main gear and a 12 tooth pinion gear produces a 6:1
ratio. This reads as a "six to one" ratio.

Functionally, this means that when the larger drive gear, which
is linked directly to the reel handle, is turned one full revolution by
the handle, the smaller pinion gear, which connects to the spool, turns
six revolutions causing the spool to do the same.

Note that the first number of a fishing reel gear ratio relates
to the smaller "pinion gear" or driven gear. The higher that number the
faster the spool retrieves line. If the number is low the spool turns
slower and the rate of line recovery is less.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GEAR RATIOS

It's Also About "IPT" (Inches Per Turn), The Rate Of Line Recovery

A fishing reel's gear ratio is not the singular determination of its
speed. Another factor that is often overlooked is the "IPT", "inches per
turn" measure. This refers to the number of inches
of line recovered with each full revolution of the reel's handle.

Unfortunately, the reel manufacturing industry is not
standardized on speed and fishing reel gear ratio. Each handles it a bit
differently. The size of a manufacturer's spool in any particular reel
and its line capacity will more often than not be different from those
of other manufacturers. Two reels with the same gear ratio but spools of
different circumferences will recover line at different "IPT" rates.
This is even characteristic of different reel models of the same
manufacturer.

Some companies have tried to clarify the confusion of fishing
reel gear ratio and reel speed/power. They now provide anglers the
amount of line that is taken up when you turn the handle one revolution.
This tells the reel's "real" speed. For example, look through any
fishing tackle catalog. You will find both the fishing reel gear ratio
and the line recovery number noted for each reel on a page. If you're
comparing reels you have to look at both numbers.

This explanation of fishing reel gear ratio could easily get
mired down in words like... mechanical ratio relative to the gears and
spool size which creates a geometric ratio as to the amount of line that
is recovered with a single turn of the handle... yadda, yadda, yadda.
Uh? Say what?.

Listen, it's very simple. If you want to know the speed or power
of a reel you have or one you're contemplating purchasing, consider both
"gear ratio" and "line recovery" numbers. That
will tell you all you need to know. The following table illustrates
differences in "IPT" line recovery for 6.2:1, 6.3:1 and 6.4:1 gear
ratios.

Fishing Reel Gear Ratios and "IPT" Of Various Baitcast Reels

Brand

Model

Line Recovery

Gear Ratio

Abu Garcia

Revo® Premier

28"

6.4:1

Abu Garcia

Revo® Toro 61HS

31"

6.4:1

Abu Garcia

Revo® Skeet Reese

24.4"

6.4:1

Daiwa

Zillion TDZLN100HA

28"

6.3:1

Daiwa

Steez 103HA

26"

6.3:1

Quantum

KVD PT Baitcast KVD101SPT

26"

6.3:1

Quantum

Tour Edition Baitcast TE101SPT

27"

6.3:1

Shimano

Core CORE100MG

26"

6.2:1

Shimano

Citica CI201E

27"

6.3:1

Pflueger

President PFLPRESIDENTLP

25"

6.4:1

What Fishing Reel Gear Ratio Is Best For Which Lure Presentation?

5.0:1 This range of gear ratios and those lower than this, have always been considered as crankbait lures,
especially for deep divers. With the appearance of swimbaits the past
few years it has grown in favor with many angler's for fishing the
usually large and heavy swimbaits. If you're fishing big lipped, deep diving crankbaits or one ounce bottom hugging spinnerbaits
choose a reel with a gear ratio between 5.0 and 6.0. Anything higher
will likely wear your wrists and hands down to a nub by day's end. I've
found the Abu Garcia® Revo Winch that has a 5.4:1 gear ratio to be a
great choice when a "slow speed" reel is needed.

Generally, reels within the low speed range of gear ratios,
around 5.4:1, will recover 20"-24" of line for each complete crank of
the handle.

6.0:1 The 6.0 range is probably the most widely used
baitcast fishing reel gear ratio. Fast, but not excessively so. A good
choice for buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits.
Those of us that flip and pitch find the 6.0 range of gear ratio fits
the bill nicely, though many now use a reel in the 7.0 range. It's good
for jigs, plastic worms, Carolina rigs
and lipless crankbaits as well. Actually, this gear ratio can be used
for most any application, especially if you are adept at controlling
your cranking speed.

Generally, reels with gear ratios of 6.2:1, 6.3:1 and 6.4:1 will recover 26"-28" of line for each complete crank of the handle.

7.0:1 High speed fishing reel gear ratios are becoming
more and more prevalent in freshwater baitcast reels. Some anglers use
them when "burning" spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Others find them very
handy in catching up with bass who run directly at the boat, as many
large bass will do. If you're fishing fast, covering a lot of water
searching for bass, this gear ratio allows for rapid line recovery and
an increased number of casts.

Generally, reels with gear ratios in the 7.0 range will recover
28"-31" of line for each complete crank of the handle. Remember, high
speed reels sacrifice "power". Something you might wish you had if
hooked up to a really big "hawg".